Principles of Care
In fulfilling our advocacy mission, The Kidney Foundation recognized that an important first step was the development of fundamental principles of care. The document, Principles of Care for Chronic Kidney Disease, provides the basic orientation for our advocacy efforts on behalf of people living with kidney disease.
These principles, in development since 1995, are now an integral part of our advocacy efforts and will help to ensure consistent, high quality care for kidney patients across Canada.
Principles of Care
- Treatment for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) should be available to all individuals who can benefit from it and want it, regardless of age, gender, race, employment status, geographical location, co-morbid conditions, physical or mental disability.
- All medically suitable individuals with CKD should be referred for consideration of dialysis or transplantation in a timely manner.
- All individuals with CKD should have access to a comprehensive continuum of ethical treatment and support services aimed at optimizing patient outcomes and quality of life.
- All individuals with CKD should have access to an appropriately qualified interdisciplinary healthcare team as part of a comprehensive continuum of treatment.
- All individuals with CKD and their families should be provided with information about all treatment options so that they are able to participate fully in decisions about their care and make informed choices.
- All individuals with CKD have the right to refuse or discontinue treatment, and to be supported in their decision.
- No individual with CKD should be denied access to medically necessary drugs and nutritional supplements because of inability to pay.
- Treatment and support services for CKD should be delivered in a consistent and cost-effective manner throughout Canada.